Point-of-sale device for an article accompanied by at least one fastener fixedly located in a prominent location

ABSTRACT

A point-of-sale device carries an article and a fastener for use with the article. The device comprises a structure enabling the device to be presented to a prospective purchaser at a retail shop. The article and fastener are located in the structure behind the transparent region so the article and one fastener can be seen by the prospective purchaser. The fastener is fixedly mounted between the transparent region and the article so the fastener can be seen by the prospective purchaser in front of the article and through the transparent region while the device is presented to the prospective purchaser and the likelihood of the fastener being misplaced prior to use, after opening of the transparent region is reduced.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to point-of-sale devices for hardware articles, and more particularly, to a point-of-sale device for hardware articles that are sold with fasteners that are maintained in situ in a prominent location so they are easily visible behind a transparent portion of the point-of-sale device.

BACKGROUND ART

Many articles that are offered for sale, particularly hardware articles, including picture hangers, are presented to a prospective purchaser in a point-of-sale device on a backing and presented to a prospective purchaser through a transparent cover, such as a so-called “blister pack.” Such hardware articles frequently are accompanied by fasteners such as nails, screws and/or brads, that are located with the hardware article behind the transparent cover. The fasteners are often loose in a chamber formed between the transparent cover and the backing. Because the fasteners are loose, they are frequently lost when the cover is removed from the backing. Further, the fasteners have a tendency to be misplaced while a user is dealing with the hardware item, for example, is being manipulated by the user. For example, when mounting a picture hanger, an installer must decide where exactly to place the hanger on a wall. However, during this process, the loose fastener is frequently misplaced by the installer or those assisting person(s) assisting the installer.

The loose condition of the fastener(s) does nothing to promote the sale of the primary hardware article carried by the point-of-sale device. If the fastener is a high quality fastener, the prospective purchaser has no way of realizing this.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved point-of-sale device for hardware articles accompanied by fasteners.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved point-of-sale device for hardware articles accompanied by fasteners, wherein each fastener is in a prominent position and is visible to prospective purchasers, behind a transparent cover, so that the prospective purchaser can be apprised of the nature of the fastener(s) prior to buying the article.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved point-of-sale device for hardware articles accompanied by fasteners, wherein each fastener is maintained in a fixed position in a chamber that also includes a primary hardware article, behind a transparent cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a point-of-sale device carries an article and at least one fastener for use with the article. The device comprises a structure for enabling the device to be presented to a prospective purchaser at a retail shop. The structure includes a transparent region. The article and fastener(s) are located in the structure behind the transparent region so that the article and fastener can be seen by the prospective purchaser through the transparent region while the device is presented to the prospective purchaser at the shop. The fastener(s) is located in the structure between the transparent region and the article so that the fastener(s) can be seen by the prospective purchaser in front of the article and through the transparent region while the device is presented to the prospective purchaser at the shop.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a point-of-sale device carrying an article and at least one fastener for use with the article. The device comprises a structure for enabling the device to be presented to a prospective purchaser at a retail shop. The structure includes a panel carrying a transparent region so there is a cavity between the transparent region and the panel. The article and fastener(s) are located in the same cavity so that the article and fastener(s) can be seen by the prospective purchaser through the transparent region while the device is presented to the prospective purchaser at the shop. The fastener(s) is fixedly mounted in the cavity.

Preferably, a chamber having walls, a roof, and a floor forms part of the transparent region. The chamber floor is located between the transparent region and the article. The chamber walls and roof are part of the transparent region. The fastener(s) is located in the chamber between the chamber walls, roof and floor.

The structure preferably includes a panel carrying information about the article to the prospective purchaser. The panel and the transparent region form a container in which the article is located. The container includes a segment in which a portion of the article fits snugly. The segment cooperates with the panel to form a pocket into which the portion snugly fits. The pocket holds the portion, and the article is held in place between surfaces of the container and panel.

Preferably, the structure includes an opening for enabling the device to be mounted on a horizontally extending element of a vertically extending mounting structure. The point-of-sale device is typically mounted on horizontally extending, elongated element carried by a vertically extending mounting structure, e.g., peg board. The elongated element extends through an opening in the structure.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As previously described,

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a prior art point-of-sale device for a picture hanger, and

FIGS. 2A and 2B are illustrations of how the parts of the picture hanger illustrated in FIG. 1 are assembled;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a point-of-sale system including a point-of-sale device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the point-of-sale device illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view, taken through the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view taken through the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a side view taken through the line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The point-of-sale system of FIG. 3 includes vertically extending, wall-mounted pegboard 40 including circular holes 42. Pegboard 40 fixedly carries fixtures 44 and 46, on which are fixedly mounted horizontally extending elongated elements in the form of rods 48, 50, 52 and 54, pairs of which are connected together by vertically extending struts 56 and 58, as well as horizontally extending struts 60. Struts 56 and 58 respectively fit into openings of fixtures 44 and 46.

Point-of-sale devices 62 and 64 are respectively hung on rods 48 and 50 behind placard 67, which is mounted on rods 52 and 54 and includes information about article 66, carried by point-of-sale devices 62 and 64. Article 66 is a picture hanger including plate 10, nails 14, and hanger structure 16 (see FIGS. 1, 2 a, and 2 b) and is located, in assembled condition, on cardboard panel 68, including horizontally extending elongated opening 70, sized and oriented for enabling point-of-sale device 64 to be mounted on one of rods 48 or 50. Article 66, in assembled condition, is located in a chamber, i.e., container, between planar surface 72 of panel 68 and exterior surfaces of one piece, transparent plastic cover 74, which is fixedly mounted on the planar surface. Thus, article 66 can be considered to be behind cover 74 that forms a transparent region of point of sale device 64.

Container 74 includes walls 76, 78, 80, and 82, which extend approximately at right angles to planar surface 72 and to each other. At the bottom of walls 76, 78, 80, and 82 is flange 84, having a bottom surface abutting and fixedly connected by transparent glue to planar surface 72. At the top of walls 76, 78, 80, and 82 is ceiling 86 of cover 74. Ceiling 86 has a planar surface that extends parallel to planar surface 72. Ceiling 86 includes oval portion 88, the periphery of which is connected to planar portion 87 of ceiling 86 by wall 90, having a height slightly greater than the thickness of plate 10. Plate 10 fits into a cavity formed by oval portion 88 and wall 90 and is held in place by transparent adhesive tape 91, which forms the floor of the cavity. The unexposed, bottom face of plate 10 abuts tape 91.

Extending upwardly from ceiling portion 88 is bulbous portion 92 of cover 74. Bulbous portion 92 is shaped for (1) receiving leg 22 and hook 24 of hanger structure 16 and (2) in such a way as to facilitate insertion of the leg and hook portions of the hanger structure, as well as to hold the leg and hook portions in place. To this end, bulbous portion 92 includes (1) sidewalls 94 that taper toward each other and away from ceiling portion 88, (2) floor 96, and (3) ceiling 98; floor 96 and ceiling 98 extend away from ceiling portion 88. Bulbous portion 92 also includes a front wall including (1) segment 100 that extends upwardly at an oblique angle from floor 96 (FIG. 5) and (2) portion 102 that extends upwardly from ceiling 98. Wall portions 100 and 102 meet at apex 104 at a distance sufficiently far from roof portion 88 to accommodate leg 22 and hook 24, so a portion of hook 24 bears against a segment of wall portion 100 to assist in holding hanger structure 16 in place. The exposed face of plate 10 bears against wall portion 88, which has a shape and size substantially the same as, but slightly larger, than the oval shape of plate 10.

To assist in holding hanger structure 16 and plate 10 in place in the assembled condition, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, flange 84 includes tongue 106 (FIG. 5) that extends from the remainder of container 74 toward opening 70. Tongue 106 includes a central elongated opening 108, having length, width, and thickness dimensions to snugly receive arm 20 when plate 10 is located in the chamber formed by wall 90, oval ceiling portion 88 and tape 91. Wall 110 (FIG. 6), having a height slightly greater than the thickness of arm 20, extends from the edges of tongue 106, where opening 108 is formed. At the top of wall 110 is ceiling 112 that is connected to the portion of wall 82 from which tongue 106 extends and through which an opening 114 is thereby provided in a portion of wall 82 connected to tongue 106. Arm 20 is located in opening 114. Tongue 106, opening 108, wall 110, ceiling 112 and the portion of panel 68 that abuts opening 108 form a chamber (i.e., pocket) in which arm 20 snugly fits. The snug fit of arm 20 in the pocket, in combination with the snug fit of plate 10 against oval ceiling portion 88, as well as tape 91, and the snug fit of hook 24 against roof portion 100 of bulbous portion 92 of cover 74 hold plate 10 and hanger structure 16 firmly in place in the assembled condition. In the assembled condition, plate 10, arm 20, and leg 22 extend in planes substantially parallel to planar surface 72, and shoulder 18 extends substantially at a right angle to planar surface 72.

The presentation is enhanced by the prominent position of nails 28 in cover 74. Nails 28 are located immediately below the planar portion of transparent ceiling 86, where the nails can easily be seen by a prospective purchaser. Nails 28 are located in chamber 120 (FIGS. 4, 5, and 7), including elongated parallel walls 122 and sidewalls 124 that extend at right angles to walls 122. The central portions of elongated walls 122 have a height slightly greater than the diameters of the elongated portions 126 of nails 28, while walls 124 and the end portions of elongated walls 122 have a height slightly greater than the diameters of heads 128 of nails 28. Chamber 120 also includes roof 130 that is an integral part of cover 74, as are walls 122 and 124. Chamber 120 further includes floor 132, formed of transparent cellophane adhesive tape that is attached to the underside of the planar portion of ceiling 86 of cover 74, after nails 28 have been inserted into chamber 120 between walls 122 and 124, against ceiling 130 while cover 74 is in an inverted position, prior to plate 10 and hanger structure 16 being inserted into the chamber including cover 74.

The prominent location of nails 28 and the location of the nails in chamber 120 enable the prospective purchaser to realize easily what is involved in securing the picture hanger in place. In addition, the person assembling the picture hanger can leave the nails in place in chamber 120 after removing plate 10 and hanger structure 16 in the assembled condition from the pocket including cover 74 and backing 68 of point-of-sale device 64. Hence, the likelihood of nails 28 being misplaced or lost is considerably reduced.

Panel 68, in addition to carrying plate 10, hanger structure 16, nails 28, and container 74, includes a text message 134 containing information about the picture hanger, as well as illustrations 136, to assist the person assembling the picture hanger. Text message 134 and illustrations 136 are accessible to the prospective purchaser even though the picture hanger remains behind the transparent cover 74, and the prospective purchaser does not have access to the picture hanger.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, variations regarding details of the embodiment specifically illustrated and described may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A point-of-sale device carrying an article and at least one fastener for use with the article, the device comprising: a structure for enabling the device to be presented to a prospective purchaser at a retail shop, the structure including a transparent region, the article and at least one fastener being located in the structure behind the transparent region so that the article and at least one fastener can be seen by the prospective purchaser through the transparent region while the device is presented to the prospective purchaser at the shop, the at least one fastener being located in the structure between the transparent region and the article so that the at least one fastener can be seen by the prospective purchaser in front of the article and through the transparent region while the device is presented to the prospective purchaser at the shop.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one fastener is fixedly mounted adjacent the transparent region.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein a chamber forms part of the transparent region, the chamber having walls, a roof, and a floor, the chamber floor being located between the transparent region and the article, the chamber walls and roof being part of the transparent region, the at least one fastener being located in the chamber between the chamber walls, roof and floor.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one fasteners is fixedly mounted in the chamber.
 5. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein the structure includes a panel carrying information about the article to the prospective purchaser, the panel and the transparent region forming a container in which the article is located, the container including a segment in which a portion of the article fits snugly, the segment cooperating with the panel to form a pocket into which the portion snugly fits, the pocket holding the portion, the article being held in place between surfaces of the container and panel.
 6. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein the structure includes an opening for enabling the device to be mounted on a horizontally extending element of a vertically extending mounting structure.
 7. The point-of-sale device of claim 6, in combination with a vertically extending mounting structure carrying a horizontally extending, elongated element, the structure including an opening, the elongated element extending through the opening.
 8. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein the structure is arranged to enable the device to be mounted on a horizontally extending, elongated element of a vertically extending mounting structure.
 9. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, in combination with a vertically extending mounting structure carrying a horizontally extending, elongated element, the structure of the device being arranged for enabling the device to be mounted on the elongated element.
 10. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, in combination with a vertically extending mounting structure carrying a horizontally extending, elongated element, the structure of the device including an opening in a panel, the panel (a) carrying a container in which the article is located and including the transparent region, and (b) bearing information about the article, the elongated element extending through the opening.
 11. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein the structure includes a panel with information about how to use the article and at least one fastener, the information being accessible to the prospective purchaser even though the article remains behind the transparent region, and the prospective purchaser does not have access to the article.
 12. The point-of-sale device of claim 1, wherein the structure includes an opening for enabling the device to be mounted on a horizontally extending element of a vertically extending mounting structure.
 13. A point-of-sale device carrying an article and at least one fastener for use with the article, the device comprising: a structure for enabling the device to be presented to a prospective purchaser at a retail shop, the structure including a panel carrying a transparent region so there is a cavity between the transparent region and the panel, the article and at least one fastener being located in the same cavity so that the article and at least one fastener can be seen by the prospective purchaser through the transparent region while the device is presented to the prospective purchaser at the shop, the at least one fastener being fixedly mounted in said same cavity.
 14. The point-of-sale device of claim 13, wherein the structure is arranged to enable the device to be mounted on a horizontally extending, elongated element of a vertically extending mounting structure.
 15. The point-of-sale device of claim 13, in combination with a vertically extending mounting structure carrying a horizontally extending, elongated element, the structure of the device being arranged for enabling the device to be mounted on the elongated element.
 16. The point-of-sale device of claim 13, in combination with a vertically extending mounting structure carrying a horizontally extending, elongated element, the structure of the device including an opening in a panel, the panel (a) carrying a container in which the article is located and including the transparent region, and (b) bearing information about the article, the elongated element extending through the opening.
 17. The point-of-sale device of claim 13, wherein the structure includes a panel with information about how to use the article and at least one fastener, the information being accessible to the prospective purchaser even though the article remains behind the transparent region, and the prospective purchaser does not have access to the article.
 18. The point-of-sale device of claim 13, wherein the structure includes an opening for enabling the device to be mounted on a horizontally extending element of a vertically extending mounting structure. 